New Cadet Leadership Text - Up For Review

[jimmydeanno]

So there I was, going for a round 2 review of the proposed CAPP 151 and WHAM! Could it be! Just posted to the NHQ proving grounds is "Module 1" of a new cadet leadership text. 

Module 1 - This is 10MB, Dial-Up Beware!

Background Paper

White Paper

Now this could generate some really good discussion, I hope you all take the time to give it a fair and open critique. 

I would highly encourage anyone to send their comments through the appropriate channels as said in the information provided.  I'm excited - from what I've read so far, this is really good.  I hope the criticism is constructive.

[jeders]

Having only skimmed the white paper and glanced at the first module, here are my preliminary comments.

First, don't make the program non-linear. Leadership, unlike the aerospace texts, need to build a strong foundation before moving on to advanced topics. I notice that they try to compensate for this by only allowing cadets to jump around within their module, but I still say start with chapter 1, then go to chapter 2. Not the other way around.

My next comment is one that's been annoying me for awhile in other pubs and I don't see it stopping, but here goes anyway. Can we please stop with all of the pretty pictures and fuzzy stuff. Things like a dozen large glossy photos of cadets and little bubbles with "sidebars." It's always been my opinion that these sorts of things distract from the actual material. That, and everytime I see it I want to puke from the warm fuzzies 

Other than that, this text need a major overhaul 8 years ago when I joined as a cadet, so I'm glad to see some changes being made. After I actually read the book, I'll post some more comments. Who knows, maybe I'll even revise these comments.

[dwb]

These new leadership materials are just a breath of fresh air compared to what I got when I joined CAP.  I love that chapter 1 dissects the core values and the cadet oath.

The text is easier to read, I think it covers a lot of important concepts without bogging the reader down in too much theory.  This is Phase I, we can keep it simple.

More importantly, if you look at the chart on the last page of the background paper, this new text is part of a whole new approach to teaching leadership in CAP, which will eventually include an activity guide for hands-on exercises, online resources, and leadership school materials (e.g., NCOA).

Bravo, NHQ Cadet Team.

[mikeylikey]

Wow....way to many pictures.  They also left out the Grade versus Rank thing.  I also do not like how the chapter will no longer be tied to the individual (like curry), but the Cadets will have to go to some website to learn why their ribbon is the Curry Ribbon. 

Mikey does not like the new text.  Return us to the Pre-2000 texts. 

Did any else catch the slight slant toward the Democratic Party?  MacArthur wants to be a dictator also got me un-nerved, as there are two sides to that story.  And all the Kennedy references??

Also...open book tests??!?!?!?!  Online?  No way!  I am all for open book tests when you are required to go find specifics from the books, then solve a problem, but not in the manner NHQ is going to be setting it up!

[jimmydeanno]

So the discussion begins....

1) I think that the pictures (and abundance of them) makes the book easier to read.  I also think that the pictures are appropriate.  The cadets are having...fun.  Remember, the book is being written for 12 & 13 year olds and a book written like Dante's Inferno might not go over well with that age group.  Personally, it drives me crazy when I see CAP Cadet related materials like encampment fliers, leadership school books, etc that only contain pictures of cadets standing in formation or holding some SOP in their face.

The pictures, IMO, also help those who are visual learners.  They show cadets actually doing the things that the text is teaching.

2) I like the fact that there are an abundance of people, from different backgrounds, experiences, etc that are being highlighted.  It shows that one doesn't necessarily need to be a military leader or President to be a 'leader.'  It focuses more on the leadership traits that people should focus on, rather than the positions - which IMO is good.

The AF's defines leadership as "the art to of influencing and directing people in such a way that will win their obedience, confidence, respect and loyal cooperation in achieving common objectives."  It doesn't say anything about the position someone holds.  Brings our course of study more in line with our parent service.

3) I don't mind that the chapter doesn't say "Chapter 1, John F. Curry" anymore.  Because the chapter is only part of the achievement, not the only thing related to it, there are 5 other components that make up the achievement.  It also enables the use of other people who, in many cases, are far more significant in history to take a larger role.

4) I like the abundance of sidebars.  It makes the reading way more interesting.  You can read the pertinent information and the sidebar relates what you just read to real life situations and examples.

5) If I read the whole "website" thing correctly, what will happen is the cadet will be promoted and be able to go to a website for C/TSgts or whatever and read about C/TSgt things - Who Charles Lindberg was, what C/TSgts should be doing, what they should be focusing on, etc.  Like a C/TSgt homepage.  I think it is a great idea.

6) I think that this one volume is already (in its draft form) far superior than any of the previous cadet textbooks.  All the previous textbooks assumed that the person reading it already knew what 'leadership' was.

7) I don't think there is any political slant whatsoever in this book, unless you consider the 'Jedi Faith' :)  The biographies probably come from largely accepted text and as long as the facts are correct according to history, I'm good with that.

8) I'm still not exactly sure what the heartburn is with online open-book testing.  Nationally Accredited Universities and Colleges use online open-book tests for their students.  I am all for it so long as the difficulty level of the questions is brought up a notch.

9) Pod Casts and Online Videos, etc sound pretty cool.  I've never watched a Pod Cast though because I don't even own an iPod, but it's just another tool in the box.

10)  I can't wait to see the instructor materials.  This will help all those CP officer's who really have no experience 'come up to speed' on what the cadets are learning, why they are learning it, etc.  This can only strengthen the CP.

I'll probably have some more comments, but that's what I've got for now.  I think that this topic could probably spur some other topics later on though...

Disabled smileys - MIKE

[dwb]

They also left out the Grade versus Rank thing.

Which, to be perfectly honest, never made much sense.  Frankly, I'm glad it's gone.

I also do not like how the chapter will no longer be tied to the individual (like curry), but the Cadets will have to go to some website to learn why their ribbon is the Curry Ribbon. 

Concur, I'm not a fan of putting the "aerospace pioneer" information online.  I don't really care if they remove the name of the achievement from the textbook itself, especially if you can do the modules in any order.  I just wish they received the pioneer information in print.

Mikey does not like the new text.  Return us to the Pre-2000 texts.

Non-concur.  I can hand this volume to a 12-year-old cadet and they'll get it.  It is also not patronizing to older cadets (contrast that with Cappy).

Also...open book tests??!?!?!?!  Online?  No way!  I am all for open book tests when you are required to go find specifics from the books, then solve a problem, but not in the manner NHQ is going to be setting it up!

I think there is another thread about that.  Or maybe the thread is on CadetStuff, and I'm just confused.

[DC]

I like it. The way they break the Cadet Oath and Core Values down immediately was great.

Someone opined that the images and sidebars detracted from the text; I have to disagree. For a brand-new 12 year old cadet the images will offer some relief from the text, I have found in the Leadership: 2000 and Beyond text can be a drag when you get to the discourses on the theory of communication and such in the book. I have had younger cadets have trouble comprehending some of the material in the book. The new one seems to presented in a manner that can be understood by younger cadets, but not seem condesending to older cadets.

I have my reservations about open book achievement testing, but I am willing to give it a chance. I cannot argue with the time it frees up in my squadron's schedule...

[NIN]

I missed where it said "take these in any order" (non-linear).  I didn't see that indication anyplace.

In fact, I saw where it suggested that the modules were intended for each phase, and that the chapters would be done in order.

In its finished state, Learn to Lead will be a textbook in 4 modules, neatly matching the four phases in the Cadet Program. The cadet regulation sets goals for leadership education during each phase, and those goals will drive the curriculum in the respective modules. Cadets will complete one chapter per achievement, as they do now with the current textbook.

Sounds mighty linear to me.

And I agree: You need a building block approach to this subject matter.  It does no good for a cadet to say "I heard Chapter 3 was easier than Chapter 1, so I'll do that first" when he/she really needs the Chapter 1 stuff first.

So, from what I read, cadets will continue to advance thru the materials in a linear, building-block fashion. Good.

Now, perhaps this sort of "new age" presentation frightens folks who are full accustomed to reading plain-jane black and white manuals that do things like detail "advanced procedures for awarding the unit citation to individuals assigned to Expeditionary Air Force units smaller than squadron size while deployed to alternate areas of operations supporting AEF 9 but not under the operational control of CENTCOM, EUCOM, or AFRICOM." (say that three times fast).  (Mind you, I have no idea of whether such a manual or publication exists. I merely made up something that sounds like it would be administered to insomniacs who don't respond to strong drugs.)

I was a helicopter mechanic and flight engineer in the military. I was brought up under a TM system that was "text-heavy and picture-light," and had to learn fairly complex maintenance operations by reading and understanding the published guidance whether there were pictures detailing the steps or not.  Thankfully, I'm a fairly imaginative person and can visualize things that are described in text better than most.  There are people for whom that is not an option. They just flat out need a photo or a diagram otherwise that tail rotor will be spinning in the wrong direction.

Later in my career, I had the opportunity to work on one of the Army's more modern rotary-winged aircraft, the AH-64 Apache.  Its maintenance manuals, unlike the much older CH-47Cs, OH-58As, AH-1Fs and UH-1Hs that I had been working on, were what had been derisively referred to as "Johnny Can't Read Manuals." They were "step-oriented, photo & diagram heavy," and supplemented with a textual description of the step. 

I looked at those, shrugged my shoulders, said "Good, makes things easier. Now I don't have to read the @#$% manual for Specialist Bagodonuts here..."  Were they better? Yeah, probably. Did they contain the same info? Yeah, mostly.  Did they make my life tougher? No, not really.  Did they help out some of the guys whose ASVAB scores barely secured them that Aviation MOS? Absolutely. 

Honestly, we're trying to communicate some fairly complex and abstract concepts to what amounts to (pardon this word) "kids."  Not young adults, although some are.  Kids.  Youth. Folks who need things like concrete examples, a photo or two to keep them interested, etc.  Have you seen a modern textbook for middle & high school students lately?  This ain't too far off the mark.

And I tend to agree that its hard to strike that balance between 12-year old cadet Jones and 15-year old cadet Smith who are both C/AB and have to learn the same materials.   You don't want it to be too far over Jones' head, or to pander to Smith.  So you're in sort of this "It will appeal to a really on the ball 12-year old and to a middle of the road 14 year old..."  space where you have to build your text for a pretty broad range.

I haven't read ALL the text yet, but from my cursory skimming of various parts, it seems like it should fit the bill.

At least its not Cappy, or that stupid amateur-hour drawing of the cadet standing on the step-stool, or Maslow directed at C/Amn and A1Cs

[jeders]

I missed where it said "take these in any order" (non-linear).  I didn't see that indication anyplace.

In the White Paper it says that chapters within each of the four modules can be taken in any order.

[NIN]

I missed where it said "take these in any order" (non-linear).  I didn't see that indication anyplace.

In the White Paper it says that chapters within each of the four modules can be taken in any order.

Ok, found that.  Missed it first time around.

I would guess that between the March 2007 white paper and February 2008, the "any order" concept has, perhaps, fallen out of the process.  The current Background Paper suggests that things would occur in order.

I would assiduously argue against the concept of taking chapters of the leadership text out of order. Leadership and its associated subjects start with concepts and have to build on it successively.  For example, you have to learn to follow before you learn to lead or, its sort of tough to learn "column of files" before you're taught how to stand at attention.

[SAR-EMT1]

Cut the warm fuzzies

Cut out the online items

Kill any idea of an open book test

Kill any idea of an online test for cadets

Mantain "chapter 1 equals Curry", "Chapter two equals arnold"  linked accendency etc... ae- no bouncing around

[Ned]

Cut out the online items

Kill any idea of an open book test

Kill any idea of an online test for cadets

Mantain "chapter 1 equals Curry", "Chapter two equals arnold"  linked accendency etc... ae- no bouncing around

Because . . . ?

[SAR-EMT1]

Cut out the online items

Kill any idea of an open book test

Kill any idea of an online test for cadets

Mantain "chapter 1 equals Curry", "Chapter two equals arnold"  linked accendency etc... ae- no bouncing around

Because . . . ?

Ability to cheat, inability to access internet, not learning material in a set manner
lose alot of the study sessions at meetings (if cadet A is studying different material for his next promotion then cadet B ) Material may not be retained in memory.

[jimmydeanno]

You guys get me so confused sometimes?  What's with all the "cut out the warm fuzzies?"  What is so "warm and fuzzy?"  Why do you want a leadership book that removes all elements of fun or interest?  Should we just produce a dictionary full of memorization items?  Of course dictionaries have pictures too, so we should remove them.

In all reality I'm glad none of you are in the business of writing educational materials for CAP because you miss the point - entirely.

[BuckeyeDEJ]

While I applaud the author for the work, which I guarantee wasn't done overnight, I'm concerned there are too many geopolitical figures and not enough aviation/aerospace figures to inspire cadets. I also think it gets a little trite with its examples, and in a couple of places comes dangerously close to making judgments it shouldn't.

I may be out of touch, but where will the drill and ceremonies being taught? Is the presumption here that D&C is taught at the local unit, using oral/practical instruction? It's dangerous not to have the D&C manual -- let's bring in the unadulterated AFMAN 36-2903! (Full disclosure: My leadership books were the Leadership Laboratory, Vols. 1 and 2, the first book being just the USAF D&C manual with a different cover. Oh, for the good old days....) By having the book, along with the DVDs each unit recently got in the mail, cadets will not be subjected to myths and legends on the drill field, an unfortunate tradition of CAP leadership training.

Cadets can get Martin Luther King in school. When do they hear about Gen. Benjamin O. Davis? They can learn about Helen Keller (who, we assume, never flew VFR) and her teacher in school. They won't learn about Sally Ride, Amelia Earhart or Jackie Cochran except through CAP. Lou Gehrig? How about Jimmy Stewart, uh, Brig. Gen. Jimmy Stewart, USAF?

Factually, I'm unsure about a few nitpicky things. Kennedy didn't order a blockade -- it was a "quarantine." The snippet box on Nixon and Watergate misses the bigger lesson, which to me isn't "don't cover up a crime," but that when you delegate authority, appoint people of integrity and hold them accountable (this could also be the lesson of Iran-Contra!). I didn't see anything about MacArthur being a "dictator," though calling him a "god-like five-star general" is judgmental. And while MacArthur's called out of line in the little box, a few pages later, another general who knew more than his superiors is heralded as a hero -- Billy Mitchell, on whose court-martial board MacArthur was the chairman! No word whether history bore MacArthur to be right about China (some would say he was), just that Mitchell was right because, whoa, we have a separate Air Force now.

From a production and visuals standpoint, the photo selection and editing is highly repetitive -- it's as though photos were forced for the sake of having them to capture the interest of the MTV generation. (Were pictures only available from National Cadet Competition?) The breakout boxes are a nice idea, even though the curved boxes are annoying. The Nicole Malachowski photo is a nice touch, though it's crowded with quotes from other people and sandwiched between several pages of boring photos of kids standing around in blues or drilling. And before this goes live, it needs spellchecking. (And before you shake your head and say, "everyone's gotta be a designer," I am one -- a visual journalist in real life.)

As for testing: While I don't have an issue with online testing (it removes the variables of local testing), open-book tests dumb down the material. I want cadets who don't need an open book to figure out what "right face" is, or what Theory X leadership is. Otherwise, we're not holding cadets to a higher standard than the longhair D student sitting in the back of a high-school shop classroom. We're training leaders to learn, retain and remember, not regurgitate and rely on other resources!

All that said, I'd like to see a publication that elevates and inspires as well as explains. Some of that is done here, but I'm not sold... yet.

[NIN]

OK, the "good old days" of the Leadership Lab involved "portions" of the D&C manual embedded in the chapters as appropriate for the topics of those chapters (ie. the first chapter had attention, facings, marching, etc.)

Since the advent of Leadership 2000 & Beyond, cadets get a copy of (then) AFM 50-14 or (now) AFMAN 36-2203 as a companion to their leadership texts. Originally it was "rebadged" by CAP with a different cover. I'm not sure whether it is similarly rebadged still.

I prefer that the canonical text be used vice editing and embedding the material.  That way if there are changes, they can be properly addressed at the source and you don't have to change other materials to reflect (part of the whole thing with SDAs, too... Remember how out of date those darn tests were when the regs changed?)


the other stuff, yah, I'm with you, a little nitpicky.. BTW, I just finished the book about Billy Mitchell's court martial.  MacArthur was a board member, General Charles Summerall was the board president.

[mikeylikey]

.... I just finished the book about Billy Mitchell's court martial.  MacArthur was a board member, General Charles Summerall was the board president.

Ya....well I watched the movie.   Gary Cooper was a terrific actor. 

Anyway, I would have like to see more AF related stories (or military related for that matter).  Lance Armstrong is a great role model, but I can think of a dozen other people that had/have cancer that did much more for the cause.  The text was surely slanted, I noticed that the topics dealing with people who were "awesome" were Democrats, while those that were "not awesome" were Republicans.  Where was the whole "learn to be a follower first" passage? 

I just plain out don't like it.  I don't like the layout design (which all CAP related materials seem to be moving toward), they could have varied the pictures more (same cadets and same activity over and over gets boring), and it seems to read at below a fifth grade level. 

[DC]

The reading level is better than what it was previously, and don't get me started on Aerospace Dimensions and 'Cappy' (who, if anyone noticed, is the mascot for the new elementary school program.).

The politics, one, do you think a younger teenager is going to make those connections, and two, does everything have to be about politics? There have been good Democrats, there have been good Republicans, and there have been bad Democrats, and bad Republicans. I doubt there is any hidden political agenda behind the indivduals they featured.

Since the advent of Leadership 2000 & Beyond, cadets get a copy of (then) AFM 50-14 or (now) AFMAN 36-2203 as a companion to their leadership texts. Originally it was "rebadged" by CAP with a different cover. I'm not sure whether it is similarly rebadged still.

36-2203 is no longer given in hard copy form to cadets, they get the Next Step CD, with all CAP publications on it in PDF. I really wish they did, I think more cadets would read it if they could pull it out when they needed to, or have to use half a ream of paper to print it out...

[DC]

The reading level is better than what it was previously, and don't get me started on Aerospace Dimensions and 'Cappy' (who, if anyone noticed, is the mascot for the new elementary school program.).

The politics, one, do you think a younger teenager is going to make those connections, and two, does everything have to be about politics? There have been good Democrats, there have been good Republicans, and there have been bad Democrats, and bad Republicans. I doubt there is any hidden political agenda behind the indivduals they featured.

Since the advent of Leadership 2000 & Beyond, cadets get a copy of (then) AFM 50-14 or (now) AFMAN 36-2203 as a companion to their leadership texts. Originally it was "rebadged" by CAP with a different cover. I'm not sure whether it is similarly rebadged still.

36-2203 is no longer given in hard copy form to cadets, they get the Next Step CD, with all CAP publications on it in PDF. I really wish they did, I think more cadets would read it if they could pull it out when they needed to, or have to use half a ream of paper to print it out...

As for testing: While I don't have an issue with online testing (it removes the variables of local testing), open-book tests dumb down the material. I want cadets who don't need an open book to figure out what "right face" is, or what Theory X leadership is. Otherwise, we're not holding cadets to a higher standard than the longhair D student sitting in the back of a high-school shop classroom. We're training leaders to learn, retain and remember, not regurgitate and rely on other resources!

There is no way to make online testing closed book, because there is no way to keep cadets from cheating. The point in making the tests available online is to allow cadets to test at their convienience, rather than be bound to testing once a month...  To compensate for the open book, the test is supposed to be more difficult.

[NIN]

Since the advent of Leadership 2000 & Beyond, cadets get a copy of (then) AFM 50-14 or (now) AFMAN 36-2203 as a companion to their leadership texts. Originally it was "rebadged" by CAP with a different cover. I'm not sure whether it is similarly rebadged still.

36-2203 is no longer given in hard copy form to cadets, they get the Next Step CD, with all CAP publications on it in PDF. I really wish they did, I think more cadets would read it if they could pull it out when they needed to, or have to use half a ream of paper to print it out...

That explains why my cadets don't ever seem to have the D&C manual handy when they're teaching drill...